Sewanee Welcomes New Dean of the College
July 22, 2025
Jennifer Cooley joined Sewanee on July 1 as vice provost and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Provost Scott Wilson announced Cooley’s appointment in a letter to the Sewanee community on March 3. Cooley succeeds Betsy Sandlin, who served as interim dean for the past two years.
"I’m delighted Dr. Cooley has accepted this new role as dean of the College," Vice-Chancellor Rob Pearigen says. “She is an accomplished teacher and scholar, and her administrative experience will enable her to make timely and significant contributions to the implementation of the University’s strategic plan.”
Cooley has previously served in many administrative roles including as interim dean and associate dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences at the University of Northern Iowa. As a professor of Spanish, she has published on 16th- and 17th-century literature and culture of Spain, as well as 21st-century immigration issues in the Americas.
Throughout her career, Cooley has found the forging of connections between campus and community through engaged scholarship and teaching to be integral to her work. A product of the liberal arts tradition, Cooley notes that she is thrilled to join Sewanee in its pursuit to provide transformational learning experiences to its students, and to enjoy the University’s beautiful surroundings.
“I was drawn to the size and the core mission of Sewanee as a student-centered, liberal arts institution,” says Cooley. “I look forward to making connections that will advance Sewanee's goal to develop the whole person.”
